26/08/2024
By Chris Gibbs
Injury time winner ends unbeaten run
Newcastle Town 1 (Avery 31) Assist: Ritchie
Nantwich Town 2 (Pratt 32, 90+4)
A goal in the fourth minute of added time from Dabbers number 10 Tom Pratt ended our unbeaten run in our eighth game of the season, and was a frustrating end to our Bank Holiday weekend fixtures after the outstanding 2-1 win at Wythenshawe on Saturday.
But it really wasn’t for the lack of trying. It was the classic case of two halves. We absolutely dominated the first 45 minutes and ought to have been two or three goals to the good by the time we did eventually get our noses in front, but the Dabbers gradually worked their way back into the game if not through creating a lot of chances, then certainly through sheer bloody-minded determination.
We started the first half brilliantly. Jake Twyford, as he so often does, playing the role of provider by slipping in Tom Jones. Former Crewe goalkeeper Ben Garratt was out quickly to block Jones as he went clean through.
Two minutes later and we had another great chance. This time the recalled Oli Ritchie went on a barnstorming run down the left, was picked out by Carlos dos Santos and our full back played a lovely ball into Jake Avery, whose shot was deflected over the bar.
We continued to dominate possession and took a well-deserved lead just after the half hour mark when another terrific pull back from Ritchie found Avery in space near the penalty spot. His finish was emphatic.
The lead didn’t even last a minute. Immediately from the kick off, the visitors went on the attack and Slinny spilled a ball he perhaps ought to have held under pressure – though on another day the referee probably gives a free kick – and Pratt was on hand to turn it home from close range.
In the closing stages of the half, Tom Jones had two further chances – the first one he put wide of Garratt’s far post the second was an even better opportunity after Twiggy had played provider again.
Garratt, however was again equal to the task. Tom has scored four in the cup but is waiting to open his account in the league. Perhaps he’s saving them for Long Eaton on Saturday!
In first half injury time, Slinny pulled off a sensational save to keep a header from Pratt out but maybe it was a sign of what was coming the other side of the interval.
The second half belonged to Nantwich though in fairness they didn’t create a whole host of chances. In fact, it took a superb last-ditch challenge from Patrick Kennedy to deny Jones just after the hour mark and then another fine tackle to stop the marauding Kyle Stubbs in his tracks.
Where we were assured and fluid in our play in the first half, our efforts were blunted in the second and Nantwich simply stayed with us and then started to get on top as the game wore on.
With 90 minutes approaching, our captain Tommy van der Laan surged through the Dabbers’ backline and when the ball was flicked back to him just couldn’t quite get enough on his finish, as the brilliant Garratt seemed to have saved his side a point.
But as the clock ticked over to four minutes of second half added time the day got even better for our visitors, as we failed to clear our lines and Pratt nipped in to steal all three points.
It was gutting but a reminder that we are a fair way off being the finished article.
Team: Slinn, Derbyshire, Baltazar (78) Ritchie, T. Van der Laan, Thorley, Stubbs, Graham, (Sherratt 75), Dos Santos, Avery, (Byrne 90+3) Jones, (Barry 70), Twyford.
Man of the match: Oli Ritchie – after an assist at Wythenshawe on Saturday, he had another one today and it could have been two. Determined defending capped a decent showing from the full back and on another day, he wouldsurely have finished on the winning side.